Android 3.0 SDK Preview Release – 3D Graphics & Dual-Core Support

Google have this evening officially unveiled Android 3.0 Honeycomb along with a preview SDK of the 3.0 version that has been made available to developers.

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is a new version of the Android platform that is designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. It introduces a new “holographic” UI theme and an interaction model that builds on the things people love about Android — multitasking, notifications, widgets, and others — and adds many new features as well.

Highlights of Android 3.0 include:

• A new “holographic” user interface and interaction model – what we’ve seen on the Motorola Xoom
• UI framework for creating great apps for larger screen devices
• High-performance 2D and 3D graphics support
• Added support for dual-core processor architectures
• Rich multimedia support – New multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through MTP/PTP, give developers new ways to bring rich content to users.
• Increased connectivity – New APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP let applications offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface.
• Enterprise enhancements: New administrative policies, such as for encrypted storage and password expiration, help enterprise administrators manage devices more effectively.

Head on over to the Android Developer Blog for the full rundown.